Should You Buy the Logitech G920 Racing Wheel? Let Me Help You Decide

As someone who has tested and researched racing wheels extensively, few questions pop up in my inbox more than:

Should I get the Logitech G920? Is it worth it?"

This hugely popular force feedback wheel packs loads of features into an affordable $299 package. Over 2 million units sold demonstrates its mainstream appeal.

But as your resident racing peripherals guru, I have to be fully transparent. There are some serious caveats you should weigh before pulling the trigger.

Let‘s closely examine what the G920 gets right – and where it falls short – to help inform the best choice for YOUR needs…

A Quick History of Logitech’s Budget Racing Wheel

After revolutionizing force feedback for PCs in the late 1990s, Logitech introduced one of the very first mass market racing wheels with the Driving Force GT in 2007.

While innovative for its time, it relied on primitive bungee cords for resistance. This changed in 2015 when Logitech debuted the G920’s geared dual-motor force feedback for Xbox One and Windows.

With a gear-driven dual motor force feedback system, 3 pedals and paddle shifters, the G920 took budget racing sims to the next level. Its well-rounded capabilities plus Xbox/PC cross-compatibility sparked a sim racing renaissance.

But 7 years later after numerous firmware updates, does Logitech’s veteran wheel still satisfy? Let’s scrutinize how its key parts hold up.

Diving Into the G920’s Technical Specifications and Mechanics

Before assessing real world performance, we need context on what’s happening underneath the hood. Here are the G920’s nuts and bolts broken down:

Force Feedback – Dual helical geared motors generates around 25 watts of power. This allows tugging up to 8.9 Nm torque for realistic traction loss sensations and weight shift. Adjustable force intensity via Xbox settings.

Rotation – 900 degree lock-to-lock turning like Formula 1 cars. The wheel shaft connects to optical encoder sensors to translate each degree of rotation into game inputs. Lower rotation ranges (180 to 900 degrees) configurable in games.

Pedals – Non-adjustable floor pedal unit mimics gas, brake and clutch. All use potentiometer-based sensors to measure pedal range of motion. This generates a proportional electrical output to control speeds. No force application or load cells.

Power Supply – External power brick provides DC voltage for force feedback motors and electronics. Pedals connect to wheel base via RJ12 cable. Wheel rim attaches using 6 hex screws.

Compatibility – Officially supports Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Windows PCs without needing drivers. May work with Mac/Linux using custom profiles. PlayStation support requires the G29 variant.

Reliability – Typical 1 to 3 year lifespan based on support call logs. Most common failures include intermittent force feedback, worn gears and optical encoder glitches. Pedals hold up better as solid-state.

Okay, now that we understand exactly how the G920 works at a components level, let’s analyze the real-world performance…

Force Feedback – Convincingly Realistic With Some Notchiness

The G920’s force feedback adds hugely to the racing experience compared to cheaper non-FFB wheels. Its twin geared motors can tug the wheel around with a healthy 8.9 Nm of rotational force.

This allows realistic traction loss sensations as weight shifts mid-turn. You’ll fight to catch overtsteer slides and feel understeer through the wheel guttering out.

Forza Horizon 5 Most Recommended

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Forza Horizon 5	4.8/5
Project CARS 3	4.2/5

Yet unlike buttery smooth belt driven or direct drive alternatives, the G920 force feels slightly notchy. This seems most noticeable through subtle textures like rumble strips. you don’t quite extract every last bit of nuance.

I suspect the full 25 watt motor power gets “stepped down” through the helical gears. This appears to introduce some slight harshness or vibration to the forces.

Still, for under $300 it’s hard to complain. This gratifying dynamic feedback trounces any arcade racer reliance on mere bungee cords for resistance.

Pedal Feel – Brake Needs Modding, Throttle and Clutch Merely Okay

Unfortunately, pedal feel represents the G920’s clear Achilles’ heel, especially the stiff brake.

Rather than pressure sensors, all three pedals rely on basic potentiometers to gauge pedal position. Without force measurement, you miss nuanced granularity in braking and throttle modulation.

Worse still, the brake pedal uses a strong coil spring that needs to be compressed. This makes it extremely stiff without much travel even when standing on it!

During hard braking you’ll likely need to press unrealistically hard just to reach 60-80% input range for ideal ABS modulation. This hurts trail braking finesse and consistency versus load cell pedals.

I resorted to the rubber block mod which helps soften the brake firmness by limiting pedal arm travel early in the range. This improved modulation but still felt like a compromise.

The accelerator and clutch fare better with nicely spaced positioning and smooth travel range. Just don’t expect adjustable angles, spacing or tilt found on high end sets.

Paddle Shifters – Just Okay Due to Excess Slop

While the G920’s metal-topped shifter paddles feel suitably clicky, they carry a surprising amount of play and slop.

You have to engage almost an inch before crossing the activation threshold. And even once engaged, you may notice some response delays compared to buttons. During quick shifts I occasionally miss a gear because of the required throw range.

This seems to result from an internal plastic rocker mechanism that fails to snap back quickly after releasing a paddle. Definitely room for improvement in precision.

Console and PC Compatibility

A clear upside to the Logitech G920 is its broad cross-platform support. As an officially Xbox-licensed product, it seamlessly handles Forza Horizon, Motorsports and all their sequel iterations.

The Xbox One/Series driver integration also offers a perk over the PlayStation-focused G29…

Adjustable force feedback intensity levels via the Xbox Accessories app! This is hugely beneficial so you can tune theforces to match your wheel’s grip strength and game realism preferences.

And for PC racers, the G920 again works as a plug-and-play solution all the way back to Windows 7. So you can freely bounce between PC sims like Assetto Corsa then slide over to console titles.

I wish more racing wheel manufacturers focused on such flexible ecosystem support. Major kudos to Logitech here.

Upgrade Options to Enhance Rig Capabilities

While the G920 works well in stock form, I recommend budgeting another $100-200 for upgrades to address some weak spots:

SHH Shifter – $59.99 – Replaces the messy paddle shifters with a smoother manual H-pattern stick shift. The metal internals and leather boot mimic professional shifters for added realism during changes.

Ricmotech Load Cell Mod – $119 – Vastly improves brake feel by incorporating a 50kg pneumatic load cell sensor. This changes the mechanism from measuring pedal position to fluid pressure for consistency. Also adds adjustable preloads.

Next Level Racing Wheel Stand – $199 – Provides heavy duty steel profile construction allowing angle adjustments from 25 degrees to 85 degrees. Far sturdier than using your desk while allowing upright Formula position.

What Drivers Ultimately Recommend After Trying Numerous Wheels

As someone lucky enough to test over a dozen high end racing wheel setups from Fanatec, Thrustmaster, Simucube and more…

I have to admit the G920 remains impressively competent 7 years since its launch. The gear driven force feedback holds up better than expected against newer hybrid belt driven sets costing $500+. And I prefer its smaller 11 inch wheel size for agility.

That said – if building your ultimate end game rig on a ~$1,000+ budget, the newer Trueforce enabled Logitech G923 fixes the G920‘s main limitations. Mostly the sloppy shifters and stiff brake pedal.

Or for a clearer upgrade path down the road, consider going standalone…

Wheel Base:

• Thrustmaster TS-XW – $699
• Fanatec CSL DD – $349+

Pedals:

• Thrustmaster T3PA – $149
• Fanatec CSL Pedals – $79+

This modular approach costs more up front but leaves you better positioned for future upgrades like adding triple monitors or motion platforms.

Yet honestly, I frequently return to the G920 as my daily driver since it simply handles the fundamentals so dutifully…

The Bottom Line – Recommended For Casual Racers Seeking Immersion

The Logitech G920 punches far above its class for features and capabilities offered. Dual motor force feedback, paddle shifters and a 3 pedal setup were almost unthinkable at this $299 price point just 5-10 years ago.

It suits cost-conscious racing newcomers well who want heightened realism over a gamepad without breaking the bank. I‘ve also gifted it to several friends as an introductory wheel with great success.

That said, expect some occasional notchiness from the gear driven force feedback along with a stiff brake pedal requiring mods. So temper expectations around absolute precision or accuracy.

Yet for Xbox oriented casual rigs, the G920 should satisfy for years as the gateway into the addictive world of sim racing. I sure know it unlocked a passion for me!

Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments below!

Randall

Certified Racing Instructor and Sim Racing Addict